Ironing machine



June 27, 1944. w. e. ZIGLER IRONING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Shet l R m N E V m Filed Dec tmmwfi ATTORNEY.

June 27, 1944. w. G. ZIGLER 2,352,422

IRONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1340 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

WW, I ATTORNEY.

June 27, 1944 W. G. ZIG LE R IRONING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1940 ATTORNEY.

June 27, 1944. w. G. ZIGLER I RONING MACHINE Filed Dec. 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 QN kg INVENTOR. Maw 6. 2/640? ATTORNEY.

Patented June 27, 1944 uuirso stares rarest OFFICE IRONING MACHINE Ward Zigler, China-g9, 111.

Application December 18, 1940, Serial No. 370,595

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines of the roll type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2.203.936, granted June 11, 1940.

Among the objects of my invention are the following:

To provide means for subjecting the individual ironing chests of the ironing rolls to a hydraulic pressure for forcing the chests at a substantially uniform pressure against the padded surfaces of the rolls;

To provide a system or means for conveying the hydraulic pressure to the respective chests from a common source;

To provide means in the system whereby the shots may be subjected to or relieved of the hydraulic pressure at the will of the operator of the machine;

To provide a compensator for the system whereby the desired volume of hydraulic fluid will be available for all of the chests regardless of the number of chests in the machine;

To provide means for maintaining the desired pressure head on the liquid volume, and to make such means capable of adjustment so that the pressure head may be varied or changed to suit different ironing conditions;

To rockably mount the chests in the machine so that the fabrics passing through the machine need oniy tilt and not bodily lift the chests to enter between them and their associated rolls;

To provide pressure responsive means in the mountings for the chests, at the rolls so that the hydraulic liquid under pressure may act on the chests to move them towards and from the roll;

To provide adjustable spring means for balancing the dead weight of the chests in respect to the roll at which the chests are arranged above said roll;

To provide manifold means for handling the hydraulic medium at the chests whereby all of the chests at each roll may be served from a common source; and

" To provide limit switches at the compensator.

to control the running of the oil pump motor as hereinafter described. 7'

The invention consists further in the features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved ironing machine with apart of the machine frame brcken away for the purpose of illustration;

2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the machine with parts in section and elevation, respectively, and parts omitted for sake of illustration; 7 i

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating th power drive for the machine to be hereinafter more fully described;

Fig. 4 shows the system of my invention for subjecting the individual steam chests of the two ironing rolls to a substantially uniform hydraulic pressure, the figure depicting the parts in elevation and section, respectively; the details of construction in respect to the larger or rear roll and one of its chests being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the chests of the smaller or front roll on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating details of construction in respect to the chests of the front roll, the view being taken on line E-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view of a detail of construction in respect to a chest mounting to be later described; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the control valve shown in its position opposed to that shown in Fig. 4.

The machine of my invention comprises two ironing rolls I, 2 mounted on shaft elements 3, 4 supported in substantially horizontal and parallel relation in the machine frame 5. The shaft elements 3, 4 are fixed to the opposite ends of the respective rolls and are journaled in the up-,

right side members of the machine frame, one of said side members being shown at E5 in Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the machine frame has two of these side members, one at each side of the machine, and that the entire frame is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the floor or other appropriate base in the room in which the machine is installed.

The rolls l, 2 are power driven, being connect ed with the drive with which the machine is equipped. This drive is indicated in Fig.3 and will be later described. In this connection, it may be remarked that the drive on the rolls I, 2 is such that they will be turned in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2 to carry the linens or other fabrics fed into the machine from the front to the rear end thereof. The rolls l, 2 are arranged in the machine one in advance of the other with the front roll I considerably smaller in diameter than the rear roll 2. In the embodiment shown, the front roll I is approximately 24 inches in diameter and the rear roll 2 is approximately inches in diameter. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rolls l, 2 are arranged relatively close together to materially reduce the overall length of the machine and to lessen the length of travel for the fabrics in passing from one roll to the other. The drive on the rolls is synchronized so that both rolls rotate at the same peripherial speed.

The ironing chests for the two rolls are marked 1 and 8, respectively. These chests, in the embodiment shown, are heated by steam. Chests otherwise heated as by gas or electricity may be employed if desired.

The chests I, I for the smaller roll are beneath the underside of said roll to iron one side of the fabrics, while the chests 8, 8 for the larger or rear roll 2 are arranged above the upper side of said roll to iron the other side of the fabrics. In most instances the fabrics are ironed on the wrong side by the front roll and on the right side by the rear roll. For monogrammed pieces the reverse is the practice, the right side being ironed first so that the raised work will not be flattened down by the chests at the rear roll. With the chests disposed as described, the materials are ironed on both sides on one passage through the machine. This saves time, expense and labor as will be apparent. It is pointed out that the machine is essentially designed for ironing the so-called flat-work, that is, table cloths, napkins, bed sheets, bed spreads and other flat sheet-like articles.

The rolls I, 2 are padded as customarily used in ironing machines. This implies that each roll I, 2 is covered on its outer cylindrical surface with a fabric padding which I have marked generally at 9 for the larger roll 2 in Fig. 2. This padding covers the entire outer cylindrical surface of the roll and is composed of the desired number of fabric layers as more clearly depicted in Fig. 3 of my prior patent aforesaid. Also, each roll I, 2 is made hollow, that is, it has a cylindrical body wall If! and closing end walls II, II as indicated for the roll 2 in Fig. i. In addition, each roll I, 2 is provided with perforations I2 in its cylindrical body wall II) as indicated for the roll 2 in Fig. 4, and these perforations, as in my prior patent, connect the channels I3 in the outer cylindrical surface of the roll beneath the padding 9 with the hollow interior of the roll. Hence, when a suction effort is exerted on the interior of the roll by a motor driven air exhauster as in my prior patent, the moisture vapors generated at the chests in an ironing operation will be withdrawn from the roll to prevent discomfiture to the operators in the room with the machine and the avoidance of water of condensation to keep the padding dry.

Each roll I, 2 also contains a coil of pipe through which steam is flowed, as shown in Fig. 3 of my prior patent, to vaporize the moisture liberated in the ironing of the dampened fabrics. Due to the fact that my present invention is an improvement on the machine shown in my prior patent, it is not deemed necessary to duplicate in the present drawings the details just above described. In this connection, I may point out that the shaft elements 3, 4 at one end of each roll is made hollow to provide a passage-way for the leads of the steam coil and for the exhauster connection, respectively. This is shown in my prior patent.

Arranged at the front end of the machine, that is, in front of the smaller roll I and suitably supported by the machine frame 5 is a fabric support, which may be in the form of a cross-bar I4. This bar serves to support the linens and other fabrics to be fed into the machine. EndleSs tapes or string conveyors I5 are disposed between the bar I4 and the roll I. These tapes run about the feed roller IS on the inner side of the bar M and a suitable wedge-shaped support I! immediately adjacent the cylindrical surface of the roll I as shown in Fig. 1. The roller I6 is connected with the drive of the machine and serves to move the tapes I5 in a (llrection to carry the linens or other fabrics placed on the tapes into the receiving space between the roll I and its arrangement of steam chests I as indicated in Fig. 2. The shaft I8 on which the roller I6 is mounted is carried by arms I9 pivoted to the side members 6 of the machine frame at 26 as indicated in Fig. l. The arrangement includes one or more adjusting screws 2i mounted in the frame of the machine and engaging an extension 22 of the roller mounting to regulate the tension on the tapes IS. The bar I4 is suitably supported from the machine frame.

A sheet metal apron 23 is supported between the rolls I and 2 on a rod 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to guide the materials being ironed from the front roll I to the rear roll 2. This apron is preferably made of stainless steel so as to present a smooth and polished surface to the fabrics as they pass thereover. Moreover, stainless steel prevents the apron from tarnishing, the fabrics being ironed by the machine being dampened before being fed into the machine.

Looped around the roll I are a plurality of endless tapes or string conveyors 25 arranged in spaced relation along the length of the roll and engaged about the first steam chest 8 of the larger roll 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. With this arrangement, the tapes or conveyors 25 are driven by the roll I and carry the fabrics from the front roll to the rear roll up and along the outer surface of the apron 23 which extends between the rolls from the last chest of the front roll to the first chest of the rear roll. The apron 23 is slightly curved transversely as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the tapes 25 will be caused to follow the outer surface of the apron as shown and maintain the fabrics in contact therewith. A series of tension devices 26 are rockably supported on a rod 2'! journaled in a suitable fixture arrangement 28 carried by the first steam chest 8 to hold the tapes 25 at the desired tautness. These devices form no part of my invention. This fixture also carries a rod support 29 for the loops in the tapes at the steam chest 8 as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the apron 23 engages the adjacent chest I of the front roll I to continue the supporting surface for the fabrics without gaps at said chest. In practice, the lower end of the apron 23 is curved to follow the contour of the front roll and then extends into a recess in the adjacent chest I to have an interfitting connection therewith.

The fabrics being ironed by the machine are discharged from the rear side of the rear roll 2 onto a plurality of endless tapes or conveyors 30 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These tapes or conveyors engage about rollers 3|, 32, the former being mounted on a shaft 33 extending between and journaled in the side members 6 0f the machine frame at the rear end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. The roller 32 is supported by a pair of arms 34 fixed to a shaft 35 extending across the rear end of the machine and journaled in suitable bracket fixtures 36. One or more arms 31 fixed to the shaft 35 may be equipped with weights 38 to maintain the desired tension on the tapes or conveyors 3B. The shaft 3| is also connected to the drive of the machine.

This drive in the particular embodiment shown comprises a main shaft 39 extending cross-wise of the machine and journaled at its ends in the side members 6 of said frame. The shaft 39 is located between the rolls 2 at a point below them and carries a beveled gear wheel 40 at one side of the machine. The shaft 4| from the driving motor (not shown) carries a beveled pinion 42 in mesh with the gear 4!! to rotate it. Fixed on the shaft 39 within the machine frame 5 are two spur gears which mesh with ring gears 43, 43 on the roll 2. Only one of these spur gears is shown in the drawings at 44 in Fig. 2. The ring gears 43 are fixed to the roll 2 at or adjacent to its shaft elements 4 as indicated in Fig. 4. Also, fixed to the shaft 39 at its end opposite the gear 49 is a gear 45 in mesh with a gear 46 on a countershaft 4?. The latter is fixed in the machine frame and carries two sprocket wheels, each indicated at M; in Fig. 3. i

A chain 49 connects one of said sprocket wheels with one of two sprockets 55 on a shaft 5| at the front end of the machine. A chain 52 connects the other of the sprockets with a sprocket 53 on the shaft 8 for the roller i5. chain 54 connects the other sprocket 48 with one of two sprockets 55 on a shaft 56 at the rear end of the machine. The other sprocket 55 is co nected by a chain 55a with a sprocket 51 on the shaft 33 for the roller 35 at the rear end of machine. A chain 5% drives the roll I from the shaft 38, there being sprockets 59, 60 on the shafts 39 and 3, respectively. The chain drive 53 drives the first roll i and the chains in and 54 drive the feed and delivery ribbons l5 and 38. respectively. The larger or rear roll 2 is gea driven as above described.

Referring now to that feature of my present invention in respect to maintaining a constant pressure of the ironing chests I and 8 on their respective rolls I and 2: This is accomplished by subjecting the chests individually, but simultaneously, to a hydraulic pressure under the control of the operator of the machine through a manually operable control valve in the system which handles the hydraulic medium. This preferably is oil, to avoid variation in pressure and evaporation of the liquid and rusting of the parts which handle and conve it. In this specification, I will describe the hydraulic action first in respect to the chests 8 for the rear roll 2 and then for the chests for the front roll The action is the same for both sets of chests, the only difference being that in respect to the chests 8 the liquid presses the chests downwardly against the roll 2, While for the chests I the liquid presses the chests upwardly against the roll I. The action of the liquid against both sets of chests I and B is controlled through a single valve in the system.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, each chest 8 is comprised of a hollow body section 6| extending the full length of the roll 2 and providing a steam receiving chamber 62 closed at the ends of the chest by end castings Bil, 5?. The latter are fixedly secured to the opposite ends 01 the body section 5i and each terminates in a trunnion 64 in line with the longitudinal axis of the chest. The trunnions 64 are supported for limited rotation in cylindric bearing elements 65, 65 at the the upper ends of piston rods 66, 66 to be presently described. It may be remarked at this point, that with the roll 2 relatively large in diameter the chests 8 may be made relatively narrow so that a relativel large number of these chests may be placed about the upper periphery of the roll 2 with a minimum spacing between the chests to reduce the air gaps between them as in my prior patent. Also, with the chests narrow and the roll 2 large in diameter, the under surfaces of the chests need only conform to a small portion of the curvature of the roll to engage it. Hence, the under surface of each chest is close to a straight line which enables the chest to maintain full contact pressure with the roll 2 cross-wise of the chest as essential to eifective ironing. This is also disclosed in my prior patent.

Each bearing element 65 is carried at the upper end of its piston rod 65 in a yoke member 61. As this construction isthe same for both rods only one need be described. The yoke 61 spans its bearing element 65 and is connected thereto by bolts 66, 68 arranged in normal relation to the trunnion 64 as shown.

The piston rods 65 extend into cylinders 69, 69 carried by the machine frame at the opposite ends of the roll 2 as shown in-Fig. 4. The cylinders 69 are set in channel-ways Ill in castings H, H at the upper ends of the side members 6 of the machine frame. The cylinders are clamped in their channel-ways through the packing boxes I2, 12 secured to the castings above the cylinders. The rods 56 extend through the packing assemblies 12 into the cylinders 89 and are equipped at their lower ends with piston elements I3, 13, one on each rod. Each piston 13 slidably engages the inner wall of its cylinder and may be of the type equipped with the so-called acking leathers to seal the space in the cylinder above and below the piston against the flow of liquid past the piston.

The system for supplying oil to the cylinders 69 is diagrammed in Fig. 4. As illustrated in this figure, the machine is equipped on each side with a pair of manifolds 14, 15. These elements are long enough to take in the set of cylinders 69 which they respectively serve (see Fig. 1). The manifold M is connected with the upper ends of the cylinders which it serves by a series of pipes '16, one for each cylinder. The other manifold 15 is similarl connected to the lower ends of the cylinders by pipes 11', one for each cylinder. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

To give the oil the desired pressur head, I

7 provide a motor driven pump and compensator arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4.

The compensator comprises an upright stand pipe or cylinder 78 closed at its lower end by a supporting base member 19 and having a piston or ram element at extending into said cylinder through its upper end. The ram has a sliding fit within the cylinder 18 and carries a cross-head 8! at its upper end from Which depend rods 87!, 82 on the outer side of the cylinder as shown. These rods carry a'plate 83 at their lower ends and which plate surrounds the cylinder 18 and provides a support for one or more weights 84, 84. The latter may be applied to the platform 83 over the upper end of the ram an, but for convenience the weights 84 are divided diametrically or easier application to the plate 83 directly about the rods. The weights 84 are s pported in nested relation on the carrying base 53 and by their total weight determine the pressure head on the oil pumped into the cylinder 18 below the ram. By removing or adding weights, the pressure head on the oil body may be adjusted to that desired. For example, should an ei ty p nd pressure be desired on the chests the required complement of weights 84 is placed on the carrier plate 83.

The pump referred to is of the motor operated rotary displacement type and is shown at 85 in Fig. 4. The discharge side a of the pump 85 is connected by a pipe line 86 with the compensating cylinder I8 through a port 81 in its supporting base I9. The motor for running the pump is indicated at 88. The intake side 22 of the pump 85 is connected with an oil reservoir 89. The pump when operating draws oil from this reservoir and forces it into the compensating cylinder IB through the pipe line 86 raising the ram 88 until the limit switch 98 (to be presently described) turns off the current to the motor 88 and stops its rotation. At this ime there is suflicient volume of oil in the system to exert the desired pressure on the steam chests of the machine.

The discharge side a of the pump 85 is connected with the manifolds M by a pipe line including a manually operable valve member 9I which in the embodiment shown is of the rotary type having an operating handle 92 and a turning plug body portion 93 containing two separate fluid passages 94, 95 as shown in Fig. 4. The pipe line just above referred to is controlled by the passage 94 and comprises a section 98 connected to the discharge side of the pump 85 at the section 88 and a section 9i connected respectively to the manifolds I4 at the opposite sides a of the machine. When the valve 8| is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the upper ends of the cylinders 89 are connected to the compensator I8 and the pressure on the liquid therein as established by the weights 84 is exerted on the upper ends of the pistons I3 to force the chests 8 downwardly against the padded surface of the roll 2 at the same pressure. of the chests 8 may be pressed downwardly against the roll 2 simultaneously and at the same pressure. Hence, all of the chests act at a uniform pressure against the roll 2 and effective ironing results.

The liquid in the cylinders 69 below the pistons i3 flows by gravity from said cylinders to the reservoir 89 through the'valve 8| by the piping arrangement shown in Fig. 4. This piping comprises sections 98, 99 which respectively connect the manifolds I5 to the valve 9| at its port 95 through a common coupling section I88. The final pipe section I8I connects the valve at said port with the reservoir 89.

To reverse the action above described, that is, to raise the chests 8 from the roll 2 the position of the valve 93 is changed to the position shown in Fig. 8. Now, the passage 94 connects the manifolds I5 to the discharge side of the pump 85, while the passage 95 connects the manifolds Id to the reservoir 89. This allows oil under pressure to enter the cylinders 69 below the pistons i3 and the oil above the pistons to be forced into the reservoir by the rising pistons. Should the repeated operation of the valve 9| lower the oil column in the cylinder 18 to a dangerously low level, th projection I82 on the weight carrying plate 83 will actuate the lower limit switch I 83 and start the motor 88 to replenish the oil supply in the cylinder I8.

The chests 9 are normally urged outwardly fromthe roll 2 by spring devices, which as shown With the manifolds, all

in Fig. 4, comprise coiled spring members I84, I84 adjacent to the opposite ends of each chest. These spring members have their inner ends seated in sockets I85 0n the associated packing boxes I2 and their outer ends engaged with adjusting screws I86 carried by the end members 63 of the respective chests. With the chests substantially uniform in weight, the weight of the top-most chest forces said chest downwardly towards the roll 2 at a greater pressure than the chests otherwise situated along the curve of the roll. To compensate for this variation of chest weight, the spring members I84 through their screws I86 are adjusted to balance this chest weight so that when the same hydraulic pressure is furnished to all of the chests, the latter regardless of their positions about the curve of the roll will be forced with exactly the same pressure against the padded surface of the roll 2. Hence, the fabrics passing under the chests 8 will receive the same pressure at all of the chests, whether at the top chest or at the chest farther down along the slant or curve of the roll. The chests I for the front roll do not need spring devices because the weight of these chests normally urges them away from the roll.

As shown in Fig. '7, a cross-member'or plate I81 is secured to each of the trunnions 64 at the end of each chest 8. These cross-members are mounted in slots in the trunnions and have their ends received in recesses I88 in the bearing members 85 in which the trunnions are mounted. The slots I88 are made somewhat wider than the cross-members so that a limited amount of oscillatory movement is permitted for the chests in respect to their mounting in the machine. The slots and the cross-members are radially disposed with respect to the center of the roll 2 and the purpose of this construction is to enable the fabrics to more readily enter beneath the chests because the fabrics need only tilt the chests to pass beneath them and not bodily raise the chests for this purpose.

To supply the chests 8 with steam to heat the chests as required for an ironing operation, each chest is connected with a steam manifold I89 by a, conduit II8. These are located on the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. The outlet for the steam from the chests is through a. manifold I I2 at the opposite side of the machine as shown in Fig. 4. Each chest 8 is connected with this manifold by a conduit II3. These conduits connect with the lower-most points of the chests as indicated in Fig. 4, so as to drain off any water of condensation. The steam supply pipe for the manifold I89 is similar to the pipe H4 (Fig. 1) which is the return pipe connected to the manifold I I2. For a rapid distribution of the steam to a chest, the conduit I I8 may have inlets distributed along the length of the chest.

Turning now to the chests I for the smaller or front roll I These chests are constructed and mounted alike and only one need be described. As shown in Fig. 5, the chest I is hollow providing a steam chamber II5 closed at the opposite ends of the chest by castings H6, H6 each providing a trunnion element I I! mounted in a bearing element H3 having a cylindric bore to receive the associated trunnion. The chests I also have a limited rocking movement axially, the cross-members II9 fixed to the trunnions 1, extending into slightly widened slots I28 in the bearing elements I I8 as for the chests 8. The cross-members H9 and their slots I28 are arranged in substantially normal relation to the radius of the roll I as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

Th chests I also have their hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies as shown in Fig. 5. The piston elements I2I slide in cylinders I22 and have piston rods I23 connected with the respective bearing elements I I8, by lug and pin connections I26, I25, respectively. The cross-members lIi'i and their wider slots I28 permit the chests to rock axially when desired.

The cylinders I22 are supported by the side members 6 of the machine frame 5 below the roll I as shown in Fig. 5. The cylinders I22 are secured to the side members 6 of the machine frame in the positions required by bolts I26 inserted through webs I21 cast integral with the sides of the cylinders, as shown in Fig. 5. Each cylinder I22 is connected above and below its piston I2I with the oil supplying system heretofore described by conduits I28, I29. The conduit I28 connects its cylinder I22 with a manifold pipe I and the conduit I29 connects the cylinder with a manifold I3I. The pipe I 30 is connected with the manifold III, while the pipe I3I is connected with the manifold I5. This is indicated in Fig. 1. Hence, when the valve 9| is turned to supply liquid under pressure to the upper ends of the cylinders I59, liquid under pressure is supplied at the same time to the lower ends of the cylinders I22. This causes the pistons I2I to be forced upwardly or towards the roll I to press the chests I against the padded surface of said roll while the chests 8 are forced downwardly against the roll 2. On the other hand, when the valve III is turned to supply liquid under pressure to the lower ends of the cylinders 69, the same liquid under pressure is supplied to the upper ends of the cylinders I22.

The chests I are connected to the steam mam-- fold by pipes or conduits I32 and to the return by otherwise rigidly fixed to the machine frame as shown in Fig. 6. The bearing element I I8 fits between these plates in the slide-way and has fiat outside surfaces to conform to the same as indicated in Fig. 6. Hence, the pistons I2I when actuated by the pressure fluid may move the chests I towards and from the roll I as previously described.

To provide a more or less continuity of the fabric supporting surfaces between the lower chests I, the center chest is provided along each side with spaced lugs I36 which interfit in recesses I31 between similar lugs I38 on the side chests as shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this is to avoid gaps between the chests I for the materials to catch in or pass through. This is shown in Fig. 6. The same arrangement may be provided for the chests 8, 8.

The statements of operation employed throughout the foregoing description of the structure of the machine and its parts are believed to present a full description of the operation and use of the machine. Summarized briefly, however, the operation of the machine is as follows:

The machine is set in operation by turning on the power to the main shaft 4 I. This through the gear and chain drive as heretofore described rotates the ironing rolls I, 2 at the same peripheral speed and in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2. Also, the tape conveyors I5 and 30, re-

spectively at the front and rear ends of the machine are driven towards and from the rolls I, 2 as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2.- Before the fabrics to be ironed are fed into the machine, the desired ironing. pressure for the chests I, 8 at the respective rolls I, 2 is established by the hydraulic system depicted in Fig. 4. The motor 88 is set in operation to supply the compensating cylinder I8 with oil from the reservoir 89. The necessary number of Weights 84 are placed on the plate 83 to establish the desired pressure head on the liquid column for the chests I and 8. As heretofore indicated, if an eighty pound pressure is desired on the chests I and 8, the necessary complement of weights 84 is placed on the ram 80. The cylinder 18 is pumped up until the contact I82 on the ram trips the limit switch 80 to turn off the current to the motor 88 stopping its rotation.

The machine is now ready for an ironing operation. The operator now turns the valve 93 by the handle 92 and subjects the chests I, 8 to the predetermined hydraulic pressure from the cylinder Ill. The dampened fabrics are now fed into the machine at its receiving or front end unto the tapes or conveyors I5. The latter carry the fabrics into the receiving space between the front roll I and the support IT. The leading edges of the fabrics are picked up by the rotating roll I and are carried around over the chests I. As the latter are heated, the fabrics are ironed on one side, that is, the side or surface in contact with the chests. If the under side of the fabrics are to be ironed first, the fabrics are fed into the machine in a manner to accomplish that result.

From the roll I, the fabrics are conveyed by the tapes 25 up and over the apron 23 to the larger or rear roll 2. The fabrics pass into the receiving space between this roll and its first chest 8 and the fabrics are then carried by the roll 2 under all of the chests 8. Steam has been turned on to these chests and the latter are heated to iron the side of the fabric in contact therewith. It is to be understood that the hydraulic pressure presses and holds the chests 8 against the roll 2 at the same pressure at which the chests I are pressed against the roll I. With the rear roll 2 considerably larger in diameter than the front roll I,

the length of the travel of the fabrics over the rear roll is longer than the length of travel of the fabrics under the front roll, the time interval being such that the fabrics are completely ironed on both sides in one passage through the machine. Hence, the ironing, is complete when the fabrics reach the air stripper I39 and are carried from the machine by the discharge conveyors 3D. IA1SO, the fabrics at this time are sufliciently dry to leave the machine as completely ironed and finished on both sides. The tapes 38 preferably carry the finished fabrics to a receiving table or equivalent element with which the machine is usually provided at its rear end.

Any leakage or wastage of the oil in the hydraulic system which may occur in th working of the machine over given periods of time will be replaced by the limit switch I03 turning on the motor 83 to replenish the oil supply to the cylinder I8, when the ram 80 descends far enough to actuate said switch. The operator may at any time relieve the pressure of the chests I, 8 on the rolls I, 2 by turning the valve 93 in the appropriate direction. For example, for the chests I, the

hydraulic pressure is changed from the lower to the upper ends of the pistons I2I to relieve the roll I of chest pressure. Changing the hydraulic pressure from the upper to the lower ends of the piston 13 relieves the roll 2 of chest pressure. In the actions just mentioned the pistons I21 are moved downwardly to carry the chests l away from the roll I, while the pistons 13 are moved upwardly to raise or lift the chests 8 from the roll 2. Turning the valve 93 in the reverse direction causes the hydraulic medium to press the chests I, 8 simultaneously against their respective rolls and at a uniform and constant pressure. The two positions of the valve 93 are shown in Figs. 4 and 8, respectively. The first position produces chest pressure, while the other position relieves chest pressure.

The hydraulic pressure may be changed to suit different ironing conditions by adding weights 84 to the ram 80 or removing weights. The hydraulic system is under the control of the operator at the valve 93, and hence the pressur on the steam chests may be readily and easily applied or relieved at the will of the operator.

The structure shown and described provides an efficient and practical roll ironer for fiat work. The pressure system enables a pressur to be placed on the chests of both rolls simultaneously and uniformly throughout the machine. This provides for efficient ironing because the same pressure can be maintained at both rolls l, 2 to give the desired gloss and finish to the materials passing through the machine. Th finished articles are stripped from the rear roll on its discharge side by a stripper element I39 as shown in Fig. 2. This stripper may be of the air jet discharge type to both strip the fabrics from the roll and to cool the fabrics as they leave the roll. Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains.

The limit switches 90 and H13 are mounted on an upright standard or post MB forming a part of the compensator assembly. These switches are of the conventional circuit making and breaking type, the lead wires which connect the switches in the circuit for the oil pump motor being marked MI, 142, respectively in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that the conveyor [5 at the front end of the machine terminates at the roll I above the first chest I. This allows the incoming edges of the fabrics to be ironed out by the roll I before being drawn into the space between the roll and the chests 'l'. The advantage of this is to avoid ironing the fabrics with turned over or folded edges.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of m invention, except as pointed out in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing machine, in combination, a supporting frame, a padded ironing roll journaled in said frame, means for rotating said roll, a plurality of independently movable ironing elements disposed above the roll and in circumferentially spaced relation about the curvature of the same, means for holding the elements in operative relation to the padded surface of the roll, means for subjecting the ironing elements to a hydraulic fluid under pressure for forcing the elements simultaneously into pressing engagement with the roll, spring devices providing a yieldable support for each ironing element at the roll, and means for adjusting the tensions of the springs to balance the dead weight of the ironing elements at the various locations of the elements along the curve of the roll.

2. In an ironing machine, in combination, a supporting frame, a pair of padded ironing rolls journaled in said frame, one in advance of the other, with the front roll considerably smaller in diameter than the rear roll, ironing elements for said rolls, the ironing elements for the front roll being arranged beneath said roll and the ironing elements for the rear roll being arranged above said roll, means for holding the elements in operative relation to the padded surfaces of their respective rolls, means for rotating the rolls in a direction to cause the fabrics being ironed by the machine to pass from the underside of the front roll to the upperside of the rear roll, tape conveyors extending bet-ween the rolls across the space between them and driven by the drive for the rolls, and an apron member mounted in the space between the rolls and extending in an upwardly inclined direction from the front to the rear roll for guiding the fabrics in their passage from one roll to the other, said apron being curved transversely to cause the tapes to follow the same.

3. .The ironing machine combination of claim 2 characterized by the fact that the apron and the chest of the front roll next adjacent to the apron have an interfitting connection to continue the fabric support from said chest to the apron.

4. In an ironing machine, in combination, a supporting frame, a padded ironing roll journaled in said frame, means for rotating the roll, an ironing element for the roll, a mounting for holding the ironing element in operative relation to the padded surface of said roll, cooperating trunnions and bearing elements in said mounting at the opposite ends of the element, and interfitting projections and slots on the trunnions and in the bearing elements, respectively, for limiting the rocking movement of the element.

WARD G. ZIGLER. 

